Conch Feeding in the Cayman Islands (video footage by Ocean frontiers)
Published on Feb 26, 2014
They don't move fast and graze all day on the sea bed.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands/DIVING
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Vision3e Research data: Education
Conchs are a type of sea snail, and are also a popular seafood in some areas.
The term 'conch' (pronounced "konk") is used to describe over 60 species of sea snails which have a medium- to large-sized shell. In many species, the shell is elaborate and colorful. Probably the most well-known species is the queen conch, which is the image that might come to mind of a sea shell. This shell is often sold
as a souvenir, and it's said you can hear the sea if you put a conch shell to your ear.
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
True conchs are gastropods in the Family Strombidae, which includes about 60 species (Source: Worldwide Conchology). Shells of these animals are strong and have a wide 'lip'.
The general term 'conch' is also applied to other taxonomic families, such as the Melongenidae, which include the melon and crown conchs.
Habitat and Distribution:
Conchs live in tropical waters, including the Caribbean, West Indies and Mediterranean. They live in relatively shallow waters, including reef and seagrass habitats.
Conservation and Human Uses:
Conchs are edible, and in many cases, have been over-harvested for meat and also for souvenir shells. Queen conchs are a species threatened by overharvesting, and fishing for conchs is no longer allowed in Florida waters (see NOAA queen conch site for more information on conch fishing).
Facts taken from -
http://marinelife.about.com/od/invertebrates/p/Conchs.htm
